How to make Christmas spectacular

[SunshineRose12]

We’re hosting Christmas for the first time this year. We’ll have family (parents & siblings - all adults) staying from about the 23rd through to New Year. We’ve moved this year and it’s the first time we’ve had space to host everyone.

After years of others hosting us (during which we’ve had lovely Christmas and never really contributed to the cost) we’d love to host a truly magical Christmas for everyone.

We’ve sorted the usual stuff, butchers order and bought presents, but I’d love some ideas for little touches to really wow everyone.

Thank you!

More greenery than you think is required: holly for pictures, lots of greenery on the table etc.

Make a big fuss of the tablescape (yes, the word is naff) and it goes without saying that you eat by candlelight.

Choose the music really carefully and make sure it is playing in dining room (low) and anywhere else.

Have ‘breakout space’ (ditto re naff) for small children including bean bags/telly/charging points.

Make sure coats/bags etc have proper space away from the party area.

Hire a florist to come decorate your house inside and out. Have gifts professionally wrapped. Hire the London philharmonic orchestra to play carols, get an interior decorator in to do the table, hire a chef to cook. Get lots of champagne in

Take the pressure off yourself (and future other hosts) and don’t aim for spectacular? Just enjoy being with your family…

Just imagine!

I think a champagne breakfast is lovely on Christmas morning. Have a little plan for the lull between Christmas and new year - a few walks - maybe some kind of local event or even cinema trip. I’d personally be ordering in some dinners - that is a lot of people for a long time - you want to enjoy it too.

Think back to the years others have hosted. What did you think was missing..... I bet it was nothing really!

Do what works for you as a family. I introduced Bellinis to our family Christmas which went down well (not proper ones really, just Buck's Fizz using peach juice instead!)

It does sound lovely and I'm sure you will have a lovely time being all together.

It is a long time to have guests though, however lovely, so I think I would look at some careful planning.

Plan the meals for each day (you have probably done this already)

Again, probably thought of already but little things like ensuring bathrooms are stocked with extra toilet rolls/soap/towels handy - sounds boring but it will help things run smoothly and make guests comfortable.

I would also think about what you will do on the days between Christmas and New Year? Depends on ages/fitness/budgets etc but can you try to plan some out of the home activities? Long walk including a coffee shop or pub visit? If it's long enough and budget allows, you could walk somewhere for lunch and walk back.

I have a young son but we usually go on a steam train ride between Christmas and New Year (Oxenhope to Howarth) and have a wander/lunch while we are there. Something like this could still be nice for adults. Or a day trip somewhere else - depends where you are but even the coast and have fish and chips would be good if the weather is dry.

I do think you might want to break it up with some activities that are out of the house so that you're not all cooped up for so long.

Have a lovely time!

Thanks all, really appreciate the suggestions.
Have dropped an email to the local florist and am busy planning activities for between Christmas & NY!

Any young Harry Potter fans?

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I'd plan a simple event for each day that is 100% optional. If people want to stay home and read or snooze, be fine with that. the most exhausting thing is a host who wants to schedule every hour of every day.

I'd have a walk, a game, and/or an event (local carol service/ am dram panto etc) in mind for each day and suggest them if people seem lively and up for being entertained. But don't book expensive tickets in advance unless it's something people really want to do, like a light show or theatre trip which might sell out.)

If there's space, have a quiet room and a games room in separate areas, so people can chill or get together, as they choose.

Leave out snacks, fruit and treats for people to graze on.

I hosted Christmas for lovely friends last year… I think that you are brave having by that many for so many days!
I picked lots foliage and the table has candles and pinecones and lots greenery laid flat- it looked lovely and whimsical and natural.
I had simple flowers but lots and lots in vases.
You don’t have to spend a lot.

The nicest home-hosted events I’ve been to have been the ones where the hosts were relaxed and convivial.

As a guest you don’t want to tiptoe on eggshells with a stressed host (don’t over stretch yourself - frozen roast potatoes won’t let you down as much as getting snappy or you and your dh hissing at each other). Have a few jobs that a guest can help with if they offer, but don’t expect or depend on help.

A guest wants it to be clear where they’re supposed to stand/sit, what you expect of them, where the bathroom is (make sure there’s spare loo roll and clean towels). Some need time outs so let everyone know what time you’re serving up at in case anyone nips out for a walk, and leave a jigsaw puzzle or a giant crossword out.

Have a think about particular needs. If Uncle Joe has a bad hip, providing a dining chair among the armchairs might be welcome. Have sweetener available for the diabetic’s tea. Great Granny might need a seat at the table where she can easily get to the loo etc.

Are you comfortable enough cooking to be able to squeeze in an unexpected request for chicken nuggets? Dc might need some extra snacks to keep them going before lunch. Set up a film to watch after dinner when the adults want to relax or have seconds.

For the other days, I’d keep breakfast and lunch simple - buffet of toast/cereal and sandwiches/soup. Organise some events - easily done via WhatsApp but not everyday. And go with the flow.

In every bedroom, leave bottled water, the WiFi password, and spare linen. Make sure there’s a bedside light and place to charge phones. Extra blankets. I leave a hot water bottle on the first night too.

I keep a spares box for guests with various things they might have forgotten.

Catch up on your own laundry before anyone arrives, and then do a load every day. Remember that a house can look chaotic and be tidied up again in 10-15 minutes. Don’t refuse offers to wash up!

After all that I’d look at decorations -window garlands with timed fairy lights are lovely and won’t be in anyone’s way but they’re a little bit of cheer for the bedrooms.

And see if there are any special attractions in your area - it’s lovely to do something local.

A selection of magazines to browse on the coffee table, grazing area where people can help themselves to snacks without asking, lidded bins and air freshners in the bathrooms.